March 28, 2011 If you sell or intend to sell tobacco product by retail whether over the counter or from a self-service vending machine you must register with the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC). (National Register of Tobacco Retailers)

TOBACCO retailers in the Lothians will be able to sign up for Scotland's national tobacco register from April 1, it has been announced. Under the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010, as part of a wider revamp of tobacco sales law, retailers must register to sell cigarettes. Registration is free and retailers have until October 1 to do so.

The Act introduces new offences of proxy purchase and underage purchase, which both come into force on April 1. It will make it an offence for someone to buy cigarettes for under-18s.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "For the first time, this legislation sets out for retailers the documents acceptable as proof of age to be used where there is doubt that a customer trying to buy tobacco is over 18. Making it more difficult for children to obtain cigarettes will help to discourage them from smoking."